Intermittent electric light



May 12; 1953 T. N. FORTNEY 2,638,584 INTERMITTENT ELECTRIC LIGHT Filed ot. 15, 1952 INVENTOR.

fms'apaee- /1. Fagr/VF/ Patented May 12, 1953 INTERMYB'EENH. ELET RTG LIGHT Theodore. Nlfllortney aLansing, Mich; Apfllicatitn fictober 13, 1952 ,"-Serial*No.* 31%50 .1 -Claim., (Cl. 3&0- 366 '1 This invention relates to electricilightsaisrparticularly concerned. with intermittent electric lights, -isv'more. particular-ly'concerned with intermittent electric lights for use in connection with motor-vehicles; and is most particularly "concerned withintemlittent'electrict-lightsifor use in connection with motor vehicles and which ob.- tainsits' source of currentfthrough the-storage battery system, andwhichis 'connectedfthrongh theicigarette lighter'ofthevehicle.

"In the past when a, "motor vehicle became fstalle'doh thehi'ghway, it has been theipracti'ce tous'eflares toindic'atethatthe vehicle isa hazard on the highway. The use of flares is not only inconvenient but is dangerous since there is danger of the open flame igniting the gasolene in the tank. Furthermore, the light of a flare is limited in duration. There are also other disadvantages in the use of such flares.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electric signal light. It is a further object to provide an intermittent electric Signal light for use in motor vehicles when such vehicles are stalled on the highway. A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an intermittent signal light which obtains its current from the storage battery system of the vehicle, through the cigarette lighter of the vehicle.

I have now discovered and invented an intermittent signal light for use in connection with motor vehicles comprising a case, a bulb, a flasher unit, the said flasher unit being housed within the said case, the said flasher unit being adapted for intermittently lighting the said bulb, a fuse,

a cable extending from the said light, a plug, the said plug adapted for fitting in a socket adapted for use with a cigarette lighter, the said cable having two wires, one of the wires being secured to the case, and the other wire being secured through the said fuse, through the flasher unit and to the socket of the said bulb, and hanger means for suspending the said light, and leg means for placing the said light on a flat surface, and am now able to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and am able readily to accomplish the objects set forth.

While some of the more outstanding features, and advantages of this invention have been hereinbefo-re indicated, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view with a portion of the case and lens cut away to show the flasher assembly, and the window hanger.

:Eig'..2'is .a1right side viewer-Fig- 1 showillgith'e flasher unit; :and the: :fuseholder: mounted:v to :a

plate; Fig. i3uisra leftrside'yiew' of #1. showings the compartment: whichzihouses' the: window' *hangen :Eig.. 4 isaa'; bottom. viewrshowing .theilegsuin opem :pn'sition for n re'st'ingk the; device/of my 1 in;- vention TGIl uaLfliat surface whenzthezlightis inf-1158;

Thehousingsornase l io'f my: invention isrmade 'preferablyiof sheetzmetal. The two. lenses 2:..eare disposed on either sides of theaxhousingaanditare secured to the case by means of the c'lips-fiaand theiboltsfi, and the other :clips deand their :rivets Thelenses arereadilyqnemovablebyiloosening the clips 4 and 5. The hanger 3 is swingable on the two rivets H! which secure the hanger'to the signal light. It wil be noted from the Fig. 1 that the hanger 3 may be swingably folded when not in use, and a compartment or housing I l is provided. The plate 8a is secured to the case I by means of the two bolts 8. The plate 8a may be readily removed in the event that it is necessary to repair or replace members within the housing of the lamp. The bolt 9 is provided for securing the flasher mechanism 2B to the plate 811. The fuse I9 is held in place by the wire H3.

The rubber tips 12 are secured to the bottom of the case and together with the rivets [4 provide for an even stand for the lamp when the lamp is not in use. When the device is in use, the two legs 13, which are swingable on the two rivets [4, are swung away from the lamp and allow for a greater base. The two legs l3 may be folded as shown by the solid lines in the Fig. 4. The plate 8a has an opening near its lower portion and the hole is lined with a grommet I5 and provides a cushion for the wire l6 extending from the flasher unit to the plug H. The plug H is structurally designed to flt into a cigarette lighter socket in the dash of the vehicle. The wire 18a. leads from the flasher unit 20 to the socket 22, which socket provides a holder for the bulb 23. The socket 22 is mounted on the bracket 2|, which bracket is secured to the floor of the signal light.

I wish particularly to point out that to facilitate supporting the signal lamp the hanger 3 may be used, and the lamp may be suspended by the said hanger from any portion of the vehicle, the door knob, for example. If it is desired to place the lamp on the ground, the swingable legs I3 may be swung away from the lamp, and the lamp may be readily placed on any flat surface.

I wish further particularly to point out that the lenses are preferably made of red glass or other transparent material, but may be of any other color which will serve the purpose equally.

The lamp may be stored in a small place in the motor vehicle, the glove compartment, for example, since it may be folded to occupy a very small amount of space. For use the lamp is taken out, the plug I! is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket, and the lamp may be hung outside of the car, on the door knob, for example, by means of the hanger 3. Or if desired, the lamp may be placed on the ground, and be prevented from tipping over by means of the extended legs 13.

When the plug I! is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket, the bulb lights intermittently and the light serves as a signal flasher to signify to the approaching drivers that a vehicle is stalled.

With this invention fully set forth it is maintained that a trouble light of appreciable utility s is provided, and through the simplicity of construction thereof, it can be economically manufactured and sold at a very reasonable cost.

Having clearly set forth the construction, utility and advantages of my invention I wish particularly to state that it will be apparent that changes in the details of the construction and arrangement of the various members of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

A signal light for use in connection with a motor vehicle comprising a case, the said case ,the socket of the said bulb, and hanger means for suspending the said light, the said hanger means being pivotally secured to the lower side of the said case, a housing, the said housing being disposed substantially at the lower side of the said case and being integral with the said case, the said housing being adapted for storing the said hanger means, when the said hanger means is not in use, and leg means for placing the said light on a flat surface.

THEODORE N. FORTNEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,165,562 Mack et al July 11, 1939 2,469,581 Slosar May 10, 1949 2,491,094 Du Frane Dec. 13, 1949 2,496,618 Cox et a1 Feb. 7, 1950 2,597,705 Clines May 20, 1952 

